About to pull the trigger for a pair of bootfoot breathable waders for the salt. I have a choice of felt or lug sole. I do most of my fishing on the flats with and sometimes on rocky coastlines. What should I get?
FishHawk

juro

08-07-2003, 05:50 AM

Fishhawk -

This is the conundrum that makes me buy stockingfoot and deal with gaitors. Throw in my freshwater fishing and there are three boots I will need on the water:

1) flats ninja boots
2) felt-soled danners
3) carbide studs

All on the same pair of Simms Guide Goretex waders, which by the way last me about 4 years of hard use.

One way to go is to buy lug sole and aviod slippery rocks, which isn't a bad idea in the first place. Or pick up some strap-on cleats for them, a little extra expense but boy do they ever work well.

Good luck with your choice,
Juro

BigDave

08-07-2003, 08:15 AM

Hawk,

If they are exclusively for the salt I would go with the lug soles. Felt's not going to help you if you want to fish slimy jetties anyway - you'll need korkers for that. The sand and salt will make the felt peel off prematurely anyway...

Mattb

08-07-2003, 08:21 AM

FishHawk, I agree with Juro- stockingfoot are the way to go. You get the versatility of multiple boots and the comfort of a good fitting boot.

I have both stocking and bootfoot waders, and I find that I use my bootfoots less and less these days. If I'm only going out for a little while and the spot is close to the car, I'll wear the bootfoots, otherwise it's the stockingfoots.

If you do go with the bootfoots, I'd say go with lugs, and a pair of korkers. The felt really won't do anything except weigh you down.